ALTHOUGH SEVERAL DECLARATIONs and orders have been made by this Court
against excess in apparell, both of men and women, which have not taken
that effect as were to be desired, but on the contrary, we cannot but to
our grief take notice that intolerable excess and bravery have crept in
upon us, and especially among people of mean condition, to the dishonor
of God, the scandal of our profession, the consumption of estates, and
altogether unsuitable to our poverty. And, although we acknowledge
it to be a matter of much difficulty, in regard of the blindness of men's
minds and the stubbornness of their wills, to set down exact rules to confine
all sorts of persons, yet we cannot but account it our duty to commend
unto all sorts of persons the sober and moderate use of those blessings
which, beyond expectation, the Lord has been pleased to afford unto us
in this wilderness. And also to declare our utter detestation and
dislike that men and women of mean condition should take upon them the
garb gentlemen by wearing gold or silver lace, or buttons, or points at
their knees, or to walk in great boots; or women of the same ran to wear
silk or tiffany hoods, or scarves which, though allowable to persons of
greater estates or more liberal education, we cannot but judge it intolerable.
. . .

It is therefore ordered by this Court, and authority thereof, that no
person within the jurisdiction, nor any of their relations depending upon
them, whose visible estates, real and personal, shall not exceed the true
and indifferent value of £200, shall wear any gold or silver lace,
or gold and silver buttons, or any bone lace above 2s. per yard, or silk
hoods, or scarves, upon the penalty of 10s. for every such offense
and every such delinquent to be presented to the grand jury. And forasmuch
as distinct and particular rules in this case suitable to the estate or
quality of each perrson cannot easily be given: It is furtber ordered by
the authority aforesaid, that the selectmen of every town, or the major
part of them, are hereby enabled and required, from time to time to have
regard and take notice of the apparel of the inhabitants of their several
towns respectively; and whosoever they shall judge to exceed their ranks
and abilities in the costliness or fashion of their apparel in any respect,
especially in the wearing of ribbons or great boots (leather being so scarce
a commodity in this country) lace, points, etc., silk hoods, or scarves,
the select men aforesaid shall have power to assess such persons, so offending
in any of the particulars above mentioned, in the country rates, at £200
estates, according to that proportion that such men use to pay to whom
such apparel is suitable and allowed; provided this law shall not extend
to the restraint of any magistrate or public officer of this jurisdiction,
their wives and children, who are left to their discretion in wearing of
apparel, or any settled militia officer or soldier in the time of military
service, or any other whose education and employment have been above the
ordinary degree, or whose estate have been considerable, though now decayed.